Heating oil tank cover and containment vessel

ABSTRACT

A containment vessel for a fuel tank comprises two-piece construction with a bottom-top or a left-right side orientation. These parts are rotationally molded with size and shape to receive a fuel oil tank. The two halves have annular flanges which bolt together for sealing the tank within. The top of the containment vessel provides a vented housing for enclosing fill, vent and furnace lines of the fuel oil tank. Heating tape may be provided to prevent freezing. Oil drips from degraded tank seams and from spills are captured within the vessel to prevent environmental damage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to tanks and vessels and more particularly to a containment vessel for a heating oil storage tank.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The following art defines the present state of this field:

[0005] Eureka et al., U.S. Pat. No. D282,921 describes a fuel tank design.

[0006] Banks, U.S. Pat. No. 2,876,715 describes a sunshade for liquid fuel storage tanks comprising a plate adapted to be disposed over a storage tank, metal strap members secured to said plate and adapted to engage under the storage tank for positioning the plate around the upper part of the storage tank, and spacing elements, forming a part of the sunshade, disposed between said plate and the tank for retaining the plate in outwardly spaced relation to the portion of the tank around which the plate is disposed to provide an air chamber therebetween said plate and strap members being formed of flexible sheet metal, said strap members extending around the tank and having intermediate portions secured to the side of the plate facing the tank, and said spacing elements being secured to and extending inwardly from said strap members.

[0007] Blasio et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,563 describes an oil tank for holding and supplying fuel oil, having a filling opening; a vent pipe connecting the upper portion of said tank with the outside open air to conduct the gases discharged from the oil in said tank; a casing surrounding said tank, and having a lower section and a detachable upper section; said lower section of the casing being adapted and dimensioned so as to collect and contain the oil that may leak out of a full tank until equal oil level is reached in said tank and said lower section of the casing; said upper section of the casing being detachably carried by the said lower section, having air gaps at their junction for ventilation; a detector vent pipe mounted on, and communicating with, the said upper section of the casing conducting the gases discharged from the oil contained in the said casing as a result of a leak in the said tank to a desired point facilitating the detection of said gases by their odor; an outlet pipe detachably connected to the said tank and passing through the wall of the said lower section of the casing; a service valve adjoining the said outlet pipe; a supply pipe adjoining the said service valve conducting the oil from the said tank; and emergency valved conduit connecting the said lower section of the casing with the said supply pipe.

[0008] Marino, U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,166 describes an environmentally safe transportable liquid holding tank having an inner tank and a rigid enclosure spaced outwardly therefrom to provide a compartment therebetween. At least one access assembly is provided on the top of the enclosure and the inner tank, and this assembly includes a removable closure on the tank and a displaceable cover over that closure which extends across an upwardly opening recess defined within the access assembly and extending about the closure in the tank. Pump out conduits extend to the upper portion of the enclosure, and wheels are provided on the base of the unit to enable its movement from place to place.

[0009] Harp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,386 describes an above-ground secondary containment system for a primary tank holding liquids including a dike surrounding the tank, a hood over the dike for preventing ambient precipitation and trash from entering the dike and preventing evaporation of liquids spilled or leaked from the primary tank and contained by the dike, and a closable tank port access means in the hood for permitting access to tank input or output ports when desired, but closable to maintain the hood's property of preventing ambient precipitation and trash from entering the dike at other times. In one embodiment, the dike is a right parallepiped having an open top and a floor and the hood includes a flat top surface and surfaces sloping downward, from the flat top surface to opposing sides of the right parellepiped. The sloping surfaces have inwardly turned flanges along their lower edges to return liquid condensate flowing down the inside of the sloping surfaces to the dike.

[0010] Del Zotto, U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,310 describes a liquid containment apparatus comprising a metal storage tank mounted within a liquid impermeable, cast concrete vault. An open-topped, reinforced cast concrete vault base includes an internal thermal liner, liquid impermeable membrane, vault seal, tank cradles and support legs. Sloped interior walls, a sump and siphon facilitate liquid and/or condensate removal from the base. A vault cover is integrally cast with the tank and supports a number of projecting fill, vent, gauge, inspection, and siphon standpipes. Chamfered edges at the cover and lift hooks facilitate cover removal, alignment and tank inspection.

[0011] The prior art teaches the use of single and double walled tanks and sunshades for tanks but does not teach a containment vessel adapted for enclosing a fuel oil tank for preventing oil leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0013] A containment vessel for a fuel tank comprises two-piece construction with a bottom-top or a left-right side orientation. These parts are rotationally molded with size and shape to receive a fuel oil tank. The two halves have annular flanges which bolt together for sealing the tank within. The top of the containment vessel provides a vented housing for enclosing fill, vent and furnace lines of the fuel oil tank. Heating tape may be provided to prevent freezing. Oil drips from degraded tank seams and from spills are captured within the vessel to prevent environmental damage. The particular construction of the invention enables it to be fitted over an existing fuel oil tank and being sealed for containment of oil leaks.

[0014] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.

[0015] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of being fitted over and containing a fuel oil tank.

[0016] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of containing leaks from the tank.

[0017] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of low cost production and ease of installation and use.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred horizontally oriented embodiment of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 showing how a vent cover of the invention would be separated therefrom;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a front elevation view thereof showing in partial breakaway, the fill and vent tubes of an enclosed tank;

[0023]FIG. 4 is side elevation view thereof;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a further horizontally oriented embodiment thereof with leg holes positioned for receiving the legs of a tank;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a further vertical oriented embodiment thereof;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 5; and

[0027]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description.

[0029] The invention is a containment vessel apparatus, which in a first embodiment, comprises two-piece construction with a bottom portion 10 adapted for receiving at least a part of a fuel oil tank 20 within, and a top portion 30 adapted for fitting over and engaging the bottom portion 10. The top 30 and the bottom 10 portions each provide a corresponding annular horizontally positioned mating flange 32, 12 providing means for mutually joining these flanges 32, 12 for fully enclosing the fuel oil tank 20 within the containment vessel. Such joining means may be bolts or other fasteners placed within a series of bolt holes 40 in the flanges. The top portion 30 provides a vented housing 50 for enclosing fill, vent and furnace lines 60 of the fuel oil tank 20. The apparatus, in a further embodiment, preferably further comprises, in combination, the fuel oil tank of such size as to be received within the bottom and top portions, the fuel oil tank providing the fill, vent and furnace lines 60 positioned within the vented housing 50.

[0030] In a still further embodiment, the two-piece construction comprises a left side portion 100 adapted for receiving at least a part of the fuel oil tank 20 within, and a right side portion 130 adapted for fitting with and engaging the left side portion 100. The two side portions 100, 130 each provide a corresponding annular vertically positioned mating flange 132, 112 providing the means for mutually joining of these flanges for fully enclosing the fuel oil tank 20 within the containment vessel. As before, such joining means may be bolts or other fasteners placed within a series of bolt holes 40 in the flanges 132, 112. One of the two side portions 100, 130 provides the vented housing 50 for enclosing fill, vent and furnace lines 60 of the fuel oil tank 20. The apparatus, in a further embodiment, preferably further comprises, in combination, the fuel oil tank 20 of such size as to be received within the left and right side portions, where the fuel oil tank 20 provides the fill, vent and furnace lines 60 positioned within the vented housing 50.

[0031] Preferably, the containment vessel portions are made of a rotational molded plastic. In one example, a 275 gallon horizontal tank measuring 60 inches wide by 48 inches deep by 27 inches high, and the containment cover is preferably produced in two equal halves to fully contain this tank. The lower half provides holes 15 to accommodate the tank's legs and incorporates a heater tape to prevent freezing during cold weather. The vent housing 50 preferably is hinged for ease of access and provides a means for locking, such as a hasp 52 for a pad lock, etc. Alternately, the lower portion would fully encompass the tank including its legs, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0032] While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A containment vessel apparatus comprising: two-piece construction with a bottom portion adapted for receiving at least a part of a fuel oil tank within, and a top portion adapted for fitting over and engaging the bottom portion; the top and the bottom portions each providing a corresponding annular horizontally positioned mating flange providing means for mutual joining thereof for fully enclose the fuel oil tank; the top portion providing a vented housing for enclosing fill, vent and furnace lines of the fuel oil tank.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fuel oil tank of such size as to be received within the bottom and top portions, the fuel oil tank providing fill, vent and furnace lines positioned within the vented housing.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further providing a means for locking the vent housing to the top portion.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the bottom portion provides access holes for legs of the fuel oil tank.
 5. A containment vessel apparatus comprising: a two-piece construction with a left side portion adapted for receiving at least a part of a fuel oil tank within, and a right side portion adapted for fitting over a remainder of the fuel oil tank and engaging the left side portion; the left and right portions each providing a corresponding annular vertically positioned mating flange providing means for mutual joining thereof for fully enclose the fuel oil tank; one of the left and right portions providing a vented housing for enclosing fill, vent and furnace lines of the fuel oil tank.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a fuel oil tank of such size as to be received within the left and right side portions, the fuel oil tank providing fill, vent and furnace lines positioned within the vented housing.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further providing a means for locking the vent housing to one of the left and right side portions.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the left and right side portions provide access holes for legs of the fuel oil tank. 